His goal was to beat the previous records held by the South African Thomas Van Tonder (90 meters) and the Dane Ida Mathilde Steensgaard (26 meters). French athlete Anouk Garnier broke the world record for rope climbing this Wednesday morning by climbing to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower, 110 meters high.
“I really did it?” » In tears, the 34-year-old young woman finds it hard to believe her feat, throwing herself into the arms of her family, especially her mother, “very proud”. Equipped with a lifeline, this double world obstacle course champion had launched a few moments earlier, in front of dozens of people, to attack the most iconic monument in Paris.
After a little more than 18 minutes of climbing using her arms and legs on a smooth rope, compared to the 20 initially estimated, it is now done for the Frenchwoman. “It’s a dream come true. It was magical,” exults Anouk Garnier to AFP, a big smile on her face. “If there was one thing I never doubted, it was that I was going to do it.”
“It’s a year of preparation”
It all started in 2022, when she won her title of double world obstacle course champion in her age category. Looking for a new challenge, Anouk Garnier discovers that Ida Mathilde Steensgaard, professional world champion in this same sport, has just established the world record for rope climbing by climbing the Copenhagen Opera House. A performance that inspires him. “I said to myself, ’26 meters isn’t very long after all. And what monument could I climb?” “.
She then sets her sights on the Iron Lady, symbol of France in the world. “I didn’t give up, because there were ups and downs,” recalls Anouk Garnier. Convincing sponsors was particularly complicated, she confides.
Wednesday morning, arriving at the summit, “I cried,” says the young woman. “It’s a year of preparation, it’s not just 18 minutes of climbing. There is all the pressure that drops (…) When you aim for very big things like that, it’s like dreams. When it really happens, the emotion is crazy,” she explains.
“The worst part was when I came back down and saw my family. It was so good to see them proud like that,” continues the athlete. “They are the ones who instilled in me this discipline of sport, to always give the best, to always aim for excellence. It’s thanks to that that I can do extraordinary things today,” says the climber.
It is also for her mother, who suffers from cancer, that she took on this challenge, which aims to collect donations for the League Against Cancer.
She will carry the Olympic flame
After this feat, Anouk Garnier wants to rest a little. A short rest, however, because his schedule is already very busy. In addition to the obstacle races that she plans to resume after having abandoned them in recent months, on May 9 she will carry the Olympic flame in Marseille, before being this summer ambassador of the volunteer program for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
If she doesn’t want to say anything, she is also thinking about future challenges. “I’m 34 years old, but 20 years old in my body,” she assures. “I’m in great shape and I plan to stay like this for 10 years,” she promises.